White aims to take advantage of opportunities with Patriots

While he didn't become a full-time starter until his senior year in college, fourth-round draft pick James White left Wisconsin as the fourth-leading rusher in school history. The running back says it's all about making the most of your reps.

FOXBORO – His contributions over his first three seasons at the University of Wisconsin were often modest.

During that time, James White started only two games, both in his junior year in Madison.

Still, White did enough during his time at Wisconsin to finish as the fourth-leading rusher at a school steeped in running backs.

“I took advantage of my opportunities,” the Patriots’ fourth-round draft pick shrugged during a break from workouts at Gillette Stadium. “That’s all you can do.”

Only the rushing totals amassed by Ron Dayne (7,125 yards), Montee Ball (5,140) and Anthony Davis (4,676) exceeded White’s, who finished in a rush, his career-high 1,444 yards in 13 games (12 starts) as a senior surging his career total with the Badgers to 4,105 yards.

All three backs whose totals exceeded White’s at Wisconsin went on to careers in pro football (Ball, who was White’s teammate for three seasons, ran for 559 yards last season with the AFC champion Denver Broncos), but clearly Dayne was considered the Badgers’ best.

“A lot of great running backs went through the Wisconsin system,” White said, “and it’s just an honor to even be in the same sentence as guys like Ron Dayne.”

White also left Wisconsin ranked third in total touchdowns (48) and rushing TDs (45). His 670 career receiving yards are a school record for a running back, as is his 6.24-yards-per-carry career rushing average.

Even more impressive than what he did with the ball, though, was White’s ability to hold on to the ball, an asset that could come as welcome relief to a team that has had to endure Stevan Ridley’s struggles to secure the ball.

White fumbled only twice – once every other year – during his four-year career.

“All my coaches have stressed that. If the ball’s in your hands you better protect it because that’s the most important part.”

White’s presence could provide the Patriots with some protection at a position where three of the team’s most productive rushers last season – Ridley, Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden – are all entering contract years.

LeGarrette Blount, the team’s second-leading rusher in 2013, has already moved on, signing with Pittsburgh as a free agent this offseason.

“I saw (New England) as a potential fit (heading into the draft),” White reflected, “but at the same time you never know where you’re going to go, and you just hope to hear your name called.”

Page 2 of 2 - At the conclusion of the draft, White heard his name mentioned in the same breath as Vereen, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick likening the rookie to the veteran “size-wise (he’s 5-foot-10, 195 pounds), skills-wise, (and in terms of) production.”

Calling Vereen “a great player” and “a very versatile guy, a guy that can run, catch, do it all – special teams, the return game,” White said, “he’s a guy I can learn from.”

While just beginning NFL 101, White has already learned that he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

“There’s a lot more to learn here at the next level,” he said, “so you just kind of learn from the older guys and go out there and make the most of your reps.”